nimaste

​We’ve heard about many potential clients who are reluctant to join a group yoga class because they feel intimidated to join a large group. Taking a few private yoga sessions will be well worth the investment and also can help you muster up the courage to participate in a group yoga class. Here are some things to consider:

Yoga Asks Your Body to Take Some Unusual Positions

One of the reasons yoga is beneficial for the body is that the poses put stress on the bones, causing the body to deposit more calcium and therefore, strengthen them. However, since your body is not generally accustomed to moving this way, you can also be prone to more injuries.

Going into a big yoga class with students at different levels can lead you to perform yoga poses without proper alignment. If it’s difficult to see the instructor you might be inclined to simply follow what others are doing. And if the person next to you is doing the pose incorrectly, you might also have improper form and leave yourself open to injury.​A private instructor will take the time to show you how to get into and out of every pose properly. A good instructor will also offer yoga props to assist you in the beginning until your body gets used to the poses.​

Comfort in Sharing Your Personal Health History

In a group class, it can be challenging to approach the instructor with your health history. And even if you do, he or she might not be able to help you modify poses throughout the entire class. However, it is helpful for an instructor to know if you’re getting over surgery, an injury, or an illness. Just because yoga can look easy and relaxing, doesn’t mean it’s harmless.​As instructors, we like to know if our clients are suffering from a chronic disease, have had any recent sports injuries, or even if they haven’t exercised in 10 years. We wouldn’t want to push a client into doing a pose that he or she is not ready to do. A good private instructor will be able to help you modify poses and offer alternatives until you feel you can do the poses on your own.​

​Boosting Your Confidence

You wouldn’t believe, as instructors, how many times we hear, “I’m just not flexible.” While some yoga students look like professional gymnasts, most are beginners who have little idea what they’re doing. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, and lose the confidence that you mustered up to walk into the class in the first place.

If you’ve never done yoga before, chances are you aren’t that flexible. You can’t expect to walk on a golf course for the first time and play like a pro either. Increased flexibility comes with practice. The discipline of yoga is a journey that is between you and yourself. There is no competition in yoga, or rather there shouldn’t be.​A private instructor will be encouraging and help you understand the mechanics of the poses. Even in a few lessons you will see yourself getting more flexible and you’ll have greater confidence in your movements.

Made-to-Order Service

Sometimes you may go to a yoga class really needing a certain pose, and waited and waited only to be disappointed by the end. The great aspect of a private yoga session is that your instructor can tailor your class to you and your needs. If you need greater hip flexibility, you can have an entire class just focusing on the hips. Or if you are super stressed out, you can work on your breathing for 20 minutes.​You’re paying to get out of the class exactly what you need for that particular day. It’s very different from personal training in that you aren’t paying the private yoga teacher to push you to your limits. You are paying to help access your inner strength and balance through yoga poses and breathwork, or simply give you some stress relief.​

Tools You Will Have for a Lifetime

The right private yoga teacher will give you the tools you can always use outside of a class, or as we say in the yoga world, “off the mat.” Everyone could use tips on how to stand taller, sit upright, and stretch properly before exercise. Moreover, certain breathing techniques will get you through the tough times in life. But the best thing a private yoga instruction will give you is the opportunity to help you see yourself in a positive way.​